Would You OK $13M New Parkland Library?

The Parkland Community Library's Board of Directors will meet Thursday, June 27 and could decide their next steps  -- including a possible voter referendum -- in the long-running quest to build a new library on Grange Road in Upper Macungie.

The proposed new library was dealt a setback Wednesday when a Lehigh County judge ruled in favor of the Parkland School District's decision to lower the Parkland Community library tax from 0.3 mills to 0.1 mills.

"It is with great disappointment to learn of Judge (Michelle) Varricchio’s ruling that bars an injunction and permits the Parkland School District to change the millage rate set by residents through referendum in 1998 that funds the Parkland Community Library,” said Karl Siebert, President of the Board of Parkland Community Library in a release.

"While the reduction of the millage from 0.3 to 0.1 mills will not affect the current operation of Parkland Community Library, we recognize that the community's support of our effort to build a new library will require a new referendum. We will meet this challenge and I am confident that voters will once again recognize the value of Parkland Community Library when they vote in November."

Samuel Feldman, legal counsel for the Parkland Community Library, said he couldn't comment on what steps are needed for such a voter referendum at this time.

"We haven't had a board meeting this month, therefore, I can't tell you whether the members want a referendum or not," Feldman said. "I don't know if it will make the agenda of the 27th. It's a matter for the board and they'll have appropriate discussion on what their action will be."

The library's contract with Upper Macungie Township states the library must raise half of the projected $13 million in construction costs before groundbreaking can take place.

A $9 million to $10 million financing plan was expected to be put into action by the library's board of directors late this month, but that plan may be moot.

The Parkland Community Library, currently at 4422 Walbert Ave. in South Whitehall, serves Upper Macungie, South Whitehall and North Whitehall townships and a section of Allentown that is part of the Parkland School District.